NOVA TownHall is conducting interviews with the candidates for the office of Loudoun County Sheriff in the 2011 elections. The first interviews are with the Republican candidates. NOVA TownHall will offer the same opportunity to any Democratic candidates for sheriff who may enter the race, and also extends an open invitation to Sheriff Steve Simpson to be interviewed and to rebut any criticisms which may be leveled against him on these pages.

Ron Speakman is a candidate for the Republican nomination for Loudoun County Sheriff. He will face off against two other candidates in the July 23 convention to represent the Republican Party in the November, 2011 elections.

Ron Speakman: In my campaign literature I express my mission of protecting our safety, community, and values. That really sums up why I want to be Sheriff in Loudoun County.

I believe in our country, our constitution and in the rule of law.
When I take office I want to impact the spike in violent crime in our county and provide the Sheriff’s department with the leadership it has been missing.

Most importantly, I want to take this position to help Loudoun’s citizens and their families live in safety.

I began my law enforcement career in California and then moved to Virginia to serve in the Army’s Military Police Force. Through these two initial career experiences, I came to understand the impact I could make through public service. After many years in police work, I started my own company. I built a very successful private sector business. Then as I watched violent crime in Loudoun County skyrocket I came to realize that this was the time to step back into public service.

Violent crime went up by 46% between 2006 – 2008 while the population only increased by 8%, according to the FBI. This is a crisis of leadership in the Sheriff’s Office. As a citizen of Loudoun, a husband, a father and business owner I felt compelled to act. After all, the Sheriff’s Office is the primary law enforcement agency in the county – and it’s not fulfilling its core mission of public safety.

NVTH: How long have you lived in Loudoun County?

Ron Speakman: I moved my family from Alexandria to Loudoun County in 1985 for a job at the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office. My sons Jeremy and Daniel grew up in Loudoun County, and I served here as a Sheriff’s Deputy and then as highly decorated member of the Leesburg Police Force. I have maintained my residence and business holdings here since the move – over 25 years.

NVTH: Why are you more qualified than the other Republican candidates?

Ron Speakman: I bring the best of both worlds to the position of Sheriff in Loudoun. I am a proven business leader and executive, and a decorated law enforcement professional. Twice, in two separate years, I was Leesburg Police Officer of the Year. In addition I received other awards for lifesaving and “The Valor Award.” When I left law enforcement after 13 years, I started my own company and created a team of over 300 employees. It was one of the largest and most successful financial services companies in the state. This combination of business leadership success and law enforcement leadership success is not something that any of the other candidates can offer.

I am the only candidate who has provided in-depth policy solutions, including a unique plan for dealing with criminal activity by illegal aliens.

NVTH: Why are you a Republican?

Ron Speakman: The Republican party is where I belong. Like most Virginians I believe in strong communities and strong values, I believe in limited government that is accountable to the citizens who pay taxes. Finally, I believe in life (for all), liberty and property, and I believe that the Republican Party best represents those constitutional values. I cast my first vote for Ronald Reagan, and I have always supported Republicans.

NVTH: Why do you think Steve Simpson should be replaced as Sheriff?

Ron Speakman: Steve Simpson has been in the Sheriff’s Office for over 16 years. I am not satisfied with his results. He has not done everything possible to combat the increase in violent crime. He is not the leader that the deputies need to do their job. While the crime rate is increasing, Sheriff Simpson is serving as an executive in a private sector company at the same time, and has taken large sums of money from sources that raise strong ethical questions about his judgment – at the very least.

Whether the crime increase has been 1% or 46% – this behavior is not acceptable. I feel that Sheriff Simpson is not the right person in this position – when he does not put the safety of Loudoun County’s citizens above his personal interests. He has failed the leadership test. He has failed the competency test. I pledge to bring leadership and competency back to the Sheriff’s Office.

NVTH: If elected, what are your top priorities?

Ron Speakman: Protecting our safety, our community and our values by arresting the alarming increase in violent crime in Loudoun County. I plan on addressing the crisis in leadership in the Sheriff’s Office, implementing proactive policing policies, combating issues related to crimes committed by illegal aliens and working with other elected officials to influence legislation that will enhance the safety of the citizens in Loudoun County.

“Ron Speakman: I moved my family from Alexandria to Loudoun County in 1985 for a job at the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office . . . I have maintained my residence and business holdings here since the move – over 25 years.”

Really? No attempted explanation for the house in Potomac? I also note the use of the term “maintained” a residence. Is that a dodge to avoid saying that he actually lived in it?

Glad the attack has resurfaced. Do dive right in and attack his illegal alien policy here at NTH. Ought to be good for some laughs.

Written by Cathymac about 8 years ago.

Interesting, this is a very concise interview. Mr Speakman seems to have a knack for just putting it out there, no fuss, no muss.

Written by ACTivist about 8 years ago.

Brief time in law enforcement. 13 years is a good deal of time to give-up and move on. All law officers I know have made up their minds in the first 5 years. You either love it or you don’t. The most dissatisfying factor is the pay and that is when personnel look for other work. Now having a good business with over 300 employees, why would anyone want to go back to a lower paying job after being away from it so long? Inquiring minds want to know.

Act, have you ever reached the top of your game, and then wanted another challenge? Or just felt duty-bound to give back to your community?
I peaked in one career, left it and started in another career…left that one in 2002, having reached a pinnacle…and came to Loudoun to seek a quiter existance after that. You see how that’s going, right?

Dad is 81 this year. He’s retired 4 times since he was 63. He just cranked up a custom farming operation….again. Some of us like to live on the edge, and never stop serving our fellow man.

Written by Cathymac about 8 years ago.

It’s probably true that a majority of law enforcement either make it or break out in the first 5 years, and many of these end up moving to a federal agency. Heck, I know several that have left to become a Fed and come back.

Monk’s comments are true too – sometimes reaching a certain expected level leads to a change. Speakman’s business experience is definetly unique in this race, but I’d call it a positive.

Working on it, lots going on this week and only so many hours in a day. Why don’t you LvL, since you claim to be such a super sleuth? Remember, you chastised me for not knowing as long as you did (no, not just you “everyone”) that Speakman doesn’t live in Loudoun County. I guess you’ve been told that Speakman is part of the ABC crowd now and you need to lay off. Glad to see you’re following orders so well.

Written by GStone about 8 years ago.

” Time for more digging on Speakman and his residency. And time for some reporting on why he left Leesburg PD (among other family-values friendly incidents).”

Why ? I thought you were jazzed about getting rid of Simpson. If so, why would you go out of your way to damage potential opponents ? Does not make much sense.

Why don’t you comment on something of substance. Speakman put forth a very intersting proposal specific to Illegals in Loudoun. This is what you should be discussing.

Written by Yellow Journalist about 8 years ago.

Is this the way you make a charge without actually making a charge?

Seems the same thing as if I wrote “Time to investigate that incident involving LI, a sheep, a live chicken, and three juveniles from an unnamed youth organization, which could spell the ruin of LI (not to mention, possible jail time) – could really put a dent in his claims of sexual orthodoxy! Stay tuned!”

Written by Cathymac about 8 years ago.

We just got Speakman’s mailer, 5 words in the in middle of the page jumped out at me about our current Sheriff’s office “over managed and under led”. I agree – and think any of our candidates could do a better job than Simpson.

Since I have already “made the pledge” to support whoever wins the nomination, I’ll continue to promote each candidate’s abilities and highlight their strengths.

Monk, I understand very well about hitting the top of ones’ game. I have had numerous jobs and when I learned all that was available to me and was stagnating, I moved on. This I did until my career which I stuck out 30 and a half years. What I NEVER did was go back to where I had been before. Otherwise I would not have left in the first place. I imagine Speakman’s business is profitable and I would assume he knows how to grow and lead his business. I don’t know what his “business” pertains to so I am asking why leave an honored career in law enforcement to start a business and then to return to law enforcement? Granted that he has ideas and may want to do some good but it is that underlying motivation that I question. That question alone is the elusive of all candidates in all offices that would make the decision process easier for me. I want the honesty and truth which I won’t get until I am able to see actions and performance. Then it is usually too late and I may have made a bad decision. Kinda like those people having buyers remorse with Obama.

YJ, as Lovettsville Lady has written elsewhere, “everyone” knows that Speakman hasn’t been living in Loudoun County. His statement about “maintaining” a residence can be construed in many ways. He has a really nice place in Potomac, Maryland that many people think is his main residence. It certainly needs to be investigated further, and I would bet that some of the local reporters are on the matter, but it isn’t a high priority for them yet. We’ll have more at some point. I would think that if this guy has questionable residency that the voters/delegates would want to know before they select a candidate.

As far as his business goes, ACT, it looks like he built it up to 300 people as he trumpets, then saw it fall apart to nothing. I don’t think it is in business anymore. That’s another story worth digging into.

All of these candidates need to be vetted thoroughly now before the decision is made. That is unless you want an easily beatable opponent for Steve Simpson to face.

LvL, here’s what you wrote at Common Sense before you got the lay off Speakman memo:

Lovettsville Lady says:
March 2, 2011 at 10:48 PM
Yes, Ron Speakman is working hard. What a shame he hasn’t lived in Virginia since 1999. Apparently that matters if you want to be sheriff in Loudoun county. People seem to think that someone running for sheriff should live in the county. Go figure.

And here’s where you tell me how uninformed I am about this issue that you seem to not care about anymore. Do your own post since you’re such the expert:

Lovettsville Lady says:
March 2, 2011 at 11:51 PM
LI,
Everyone knew where Ron lived while you were still scratching your head and asking for help on your blog. It’s public record. duh. Not exactly rocket science to find it. Since you couldn’t figure that out, without help, perhaps there are a few other things you’ve yet to figure out. just sayin’……word to the wise.
___________________________________________________________________________

No one person knows everything going on in this county. Since this seems to be your particular area of expertise, why don’t you fill in the blanks.

Written by ACTivist about 8 years ago.

LI, this is the stuff that I want to know about. I’m surely not going to take someone else’s word unless it is backed by fact. These issues need to be persued and answers have to be given before we go anywhere with a candidate. Seems that’s why we are starting the process early, huh? Looks like we may need the time to dig up all the garbage to get at the truth.

I think we rather enjoy your blind and deaf imitation of a political guru.
We gave you everything regarding a past incident. You learned as you went along.
Suddenly, when we stopped enabling you, it went downhill fast. We all evidence this with your alledged “lay off Speakman” remark above. No such order ever went out. We’re pretty much independent to write whatever we please.

Act, I agree that the proof is in the pudding. But, then again, I’m living proof that one can go back to where one was, voluntarily, if the situation calls for it. I got back into politics to bring about fair play, after working against that fairness in DC for a number of years in the employ of the very crooks we want to see gone now. It’s a redemption of sorts….

ACT, this is exactly the kind of stuff that everyone should be hunting down and exposing while the campaign is on. If the LCRC really wants to beat Simpson they need to put forth the best qualified candidate with the least amount of damaging baggage. All of this hand wringing about eveyrone being nice and never comparing records is a complete cop-out. Lovettsville Lady seems to have all the info, even back to the year he supposedly stopped living in Virginia. She should post it up.

She should NOT post it up. We should be discussing plans and positions and stop cutting to the mud-slinging for mud-slinging’s sake.
And just because one holds information, does not mean one should immediately post it.
Some of us hold onto stuff until it’s convienant to turn it loose, with practiced skill. Some stuff is so good, you can actually make a candidate play “catch-up” instead of offense, if things are timed right.

Knowing whether a candidate acutally lives in the county and state he wants to run for Sheriff in is not mudslinging. It’s better to winnow out the duds immediately and narrow it down to the real candidates. No need to waste time with poseurs.

I didn’t see her harping on it. We’re aware of a great many things. But there isn’t an immediate need to make any of that information public just yet. It’s better saved to scramble the candidates when they don’t have six months to explain why something is funny.

Written by Lovettsville Lady about 8 years ago.

Oh LI, do your own investigating. Like I said, it is not rocket science, it’s public records. Come on, you’re not that dumb.

I am not looking to ”prove” anything about any republican. You are, so you’ll have to do it. Honestly, I can’t imagine why you haven’t done that already in your quest to bring down yet another republican.

You already started the ball rolling, LvL, now you’re backpedaling away. Since your last paragraph closely resembles your pal’s it is ndeed clear that you have gotten the proverbial “memo” (for those of you too dense to get that, it is a figure of speech, not an actual memo).

Ron, next time these people call you to pump you for info or “strategize”, don’t forget that they’re going to whip all this out on you later.

ACT, as you can see, some people would rather play petty games then disseminate information that would help winnow the group of candidates down to those who can actually beat Steve Simpson in a general election. Remember this as you see these people bitch and moan about the candidates they don’t like.

Read between the lines.. “I can’t get that information, so I need you to get it for me”….
Look, Einstein…speaking of thick skulls (and per my name, I took a round in the forehead in my youth that bounced off) –it appears you have one, too. As many times as you’ve directed us to the “memo”, there are none, there are no marching orders, no ringleaders, or any other of your paranoid delusions.

BPM, you are part of a little band of about 10 people who are having a hissy fit about Mike Chapman not bowing down before you. Of course I can get that information and I will, along with much more since none of you seem to care about it because it interferes with your “tear down that arrogant asshole Mike Chapman” mission (nothing arrogant about the guy, by the way, he just runs his own show and doesn’t need advice from self interested tools).

Written by Cathymac about 8 years ago.

Good grief, everything is a conspiracy. If anyone here were involved in even a fraction of the espionage and back room deals that is bandied about – we’d be perfect fodder for a spy novel.

BTW, I have my preferences for who plays me in any subsequent movie deal…..Mariska Hargitay or Famke Janssen would be my top 2 picks.

ACT, in case you’ve missed it, the issue of Speakman’s residence was discussed (with links to publicly available documents) at TC a few weeks back, http://www.tooconservative.com/?p=8571
I’ll note with an update that Speakman’s representatives did not respond to my invitation to explain the residency discrepancies.

Thank you, Lloyd, for that information. It would make a difference to me where a candidate lives as far as having true skin in the game. I don’t like those type of people that “move around” just so that they may be an elligable candidate for a specific race. It is a shame that people will not come forward with what could be important information in the decision making process. Although I know all about strategy, I don’t want my politics like a chess game. I want all out in the open immediately and above board. It is the game playing that always upsets the voters. That is why I stay on the outside of politics. So that you insiders can see where a common voter is coming from and adjust your methods accordingly. That is, unless you just like shitting on the common voter and only give him what YOU feel is necessary. At that point, you have no more honor than the candidate you are trying to push upon us. That don’t swallow well with me. No sir, not one bit!

Ugh….you’re so sure that that LAME ASSED CONCOCTION is the best you could do?
I guess we don’t really have to worry too much about anything “credible” coming from you for the next six months. I mean, there’s a real story….and then there’s yOUR fairy tale.
This thing is about 3 layers deeper….but I don’t want you to lose sleep in even imagining what the particulars are.

“So that you insiders can see where a common voter is coming from and adjust your methods accordingly” EXACTLY, ACT.
I got off of my coucn and into this situation 10 years ago…and at the heart of it all, I consider myself an average Joe, and I value his input and his desires everyday. In opposition to the traits some idiots have bestowed upon me, I do all of this for the betterment of the County and it’s people. What you’re witnessing is a temper tantrum because I dared to disagree with one who isn’t even in the Party anymore, and has turned on so many Republicans, they won’t converse in a room with him.

Written by Lovettsville Lady about 8 years ago.

I’m not a lady because I won’t help you find what you want on the internet?!!! HAHAHAHA……..

My wife just asked me if I could type WWWWHHHAAAAAAA!! on the internet. LOL
I believe he indicated that he was having trouble finding the info, Lovettsville.
I suppose all of us are tired of providing his “real” content.

Thanks for the early morning laughs! Dear Lord, dumbass, get a hold of yourself! Plenty of Republicans converse with me, except for your little hissy fit band of 8 people.

LvL, you’re not a lady for using “STFU”. I already have a collection of Speakman residency info and will get more when time allows. That has not been high on my priority list, getting solid info on our skanky Sheriff has been. To which end you two have done absolutely nothing. If you two were more worried about getting the best candidate for sheriff instead of engaging in the small group tantrum against Mike Chapman, you would pick up some of the slack and report it yourselves. Instead you decide to cover for Speakman.

You two imbeciles don’t provide much real content, just your personal opinions and worthless counter-productive endorsements.

Yeah…breakout some more language and personal attacks , instead of taking the high road. You couldn’t find the high road with a GPS, so we understand.
As to Speakman, I fully expect you and your BO mini-me to launch attack after attack against Speakman because of your apologistic approach to illegal aliens. We figured as much.
As for giving Ron cover…I don’t think he needs it and I’m firmly in Verne’s camp.
Damn…shot your “all knowing” tripe down again.

Me apologizing for illegal aliens??? What world did you get that from, I’ve had plenty of posts against that scourge and have never defended illegal immigration in any way. BO indeed has a differening opinion and attitude there.

But it is just as well that we bring up immigration in a thread about the Sheriff candidate who has residency issues himself. I think Ron needs to have a fundraiser at his 25 year Loudoun home to help put all this controversy to rest.

Written by GStone about 8 years ago.

“I think Ron needs to have a fundraiser at his 25 year Loudoun home to help put all this controversy to rest.”

Pick up the phone and ask as opposed to posing the same tired question over and over. Just ask! What a concept, or are you afraid the response will take away a talking point ?

LLoyd sent an email to his campaign asking for clarification and got nothing. This is a public forum – he or his campaign should show up and put the issue to rest if it’s so clear cut. Plenty of people are talking about this, so it’s in his best interest to provide more information to everyone.

Written by Lovettsville Lady about 8 years ago.

Perhaps you should call and offer your services as a campaign manager, since you know what is best for Ron. Personally, I don’t care if he commutes to work from Maryland, or west Jabru.

Written by Cathymac about 8 years ago.

Did Lloyd leave the message from “Lloyd the Idiot”? That might be the problem